WEBVTT NOW, AS SET OF JUST WATCHING YOUR FAVORITE COLLEGE FOOTBALL GAME OR BASKETBALL GAME, OR GOLF TOURNAMENT, YOU’LL BE ABLE TO BET ON IT LEGALLY. >> I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO GO THIS WAY THE WHOLE TIME. JAKE HIGHFILL IS A REPUBLICAN STATE LAWMAKER FROM JOHNSTON. >> THIS HAS BEEN MY BILL, I’VE WORKED ON IT ALL YEAR. HE’S OVERJOYED WITH THE SUPREME COURT RULING ON SPORTS BETTING. HE SAYS THE LEGISLATURE WAS READY TO PASS A SPORTS BETTING LAW DURING THE PAST SESSION. BUT THE VOTE WAS DELAYED TO WAIT FOR THE SUPREM COURT RULING. THE >> BUT WHILE IT WOULD ALLOW SPORTS BETTORS TO REGISTER IN AN OF IOWA’S 19 LAND-BASED CASINOS, THE CASINOS WOULD REGULATE THE SPORTS BETTING IN THEIR OWN BUILDINGS AND ON ONLINE OR ON MOBILE PHONE BETTING APPS >> MY PERSONAL BELIEF IS THAT IT IS BETTER TO HAVE AN ABOVE GROUND WELL-REGULATED CASINO INDUSTRY, A SYSTEM THAT HAS BEEN PLACE FOR OVER 28 YEARS, AND WHICH WILL ALLOW THEM TO HAVE A SYSTEM THAT WILL BE MORE SOFT -- SAFE AND SOUND. IT’S DIFFICULT TO PREDICT HOW MUCH REVENUE, BUT THERE WILL BE SOME FOR THE STATE. THE CASINOS WOULD REGULATE THE >> >> AS THIS GROWS YOU’RE TAKING ILLEGAL ACTIVITY TO MORE REGULATED STRUCTURE WHICH I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL WANT TO DO. IT’S DIFFICULT TO PREDICT HOW MUCH REVENUE, BUT THERE WILL BE SOME FOR THE STATE. TODD: BUT NOT EVERYONE IS EXCITED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL EXPANSION OF GAMBLING IN IOWA. KIRK NESSET IS A GAMBLING EDUCATION EXPERT. >> NOW, FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE BETTING COME IT MAKES IT THAT MUCH EASIER FOR THEM

Sports betting could soon be legal in Iowa.The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday that states should be allowed to sponsor sports gambling.The judges reversed a ruling on the 1992 Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, which prohibited most states from sponsoring or authorizing betting related to sports.Iowa lawmakers said they postponed voting on a bill to legalize sports betting in Iowa in anticipation of the Supreme Court ruling.“I thought it was going to go this way the whole time,” said Rep. Jake Highfill, R-Johnston.Highfill, who worked on the bill, said he is overjoyed following the Supreme Court's decision. “My personal belief is that it is better to (have betting) happen above ground through well-regulated casino industry -- a system that has been in place for over 28 years -- and it will allow them to have a system that is more safe and sound,” he said.Highfill’s legislation would allow sports betters to register at any of Iowa's 19 land-based casinos. The casinos would regulate the sports betting in their own buildings and on online or on mobile phone betting apps.“Oh, we are very excited to have this happen,” Iowa Gambling Association President West Ehrecke said.Ehrecke said Iowa collects about $300 million from gambling now and that the figure would likely grow with the legalization of sports betting.“As this grows, you're taking illegal activity to more regulated structure, which I think a lot of people will want to do,” he said. “It's difficult to predict how much revenue, but there will be some for the state.”Not everyone is excited about the potential expansion of gambling in Iowa. Gambling education coordinator Kirk Nesset said he fears legalizing sports betting will hurt those with gambling addictions.“For those individuals who are betting, it makes it that much easier to place that bet and (it weighs) less on their conscious than knowing they were doing it illegally,” Nesset said.Casinos in Iowa could offer sports betting as early as 2019 if lawmakers pass legislation approving it in the state.

DES MOINES, Iowa —

Sports betting could soon be legal in Iowa.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday that states should be allowed to sponsor sports gambling.

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The judges reversed a ruling on the 1992 Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, which prohibited most states from sponsoring or authorizing betting related to sports.

Iowa lawmakers said they postponed voting on a bill to legalize sports betting in Iowa in anticipation of the Supreme Court ruling.

“I thought it was going to go this way the whole time,” said Rep. Jake Highfill, R-Johnston.

Highfill, who worked on the bill, said he is overjoyed following the Supreme Court's decision.

“My personal belief is that it is better to (have betting) happen above ground through well-regulated casino industry -- a system that has been in place for over 28 years -- and it will allow them to have a system that is more safe and sound,” he said.

Highfill’s legislation would allow sports betters to register at any of Iowa's 19 land-based casinos. The casinos would regulate the sports betting in their own buildings and on online or on mobile phone betting apps.

“Oh, we are very excited to have this happen,” Iowa Gambling Association President West Ehrecke said.

Ehrecke said Iowa collects about $300 million from gambling now and that the figure would likely grow with the legalization of sports betting.

“As this grows, you're taking illegal activity to more regulated structure, which I think a lot of people will want to do,” he said. “It's difficult to predict how much revenue, but there will be some for the state.”

Not everyone is excited about the potential expansion of gambling in Iowa. Gambling education coordinator Kirk Nesset said he fears legalizing sports betting will hurt those with gambling addictions.

“For those individuals who are betting, it makes it that much easier to place that bet and (it weighs) less on their conscious than knowing they were doing it illegally,” Nesset said.

Casinos in Iowa could offer sports betting as early as 2019 if lawmakers pass legislation approving it in the state.